In every community there are people who hold you back. You want to move forward, and they pull you backwards. All of us have experienced such people at different stages of our lives. Some are within our own families, some in our mosques, some at work. They dislike seeing you succeed, they resent any goodness that reaches you, and they constantly try to drag you down. Psychologically they are often driven by envy, malice, or a love of chaos and bad news.
The Qur’an draws our attention to several such types. They are not only a social nuisance; they are a spiritual danger. They weaken morale, spread doubt, and obstruct the path of obedience to Allah. This article brings together five Qur’anic categories:
المعوقون – the obstructors
المثبطون – the discouragers
المرجفون – the rumour-spreaders (alarmists)
المشككون – the doubters
المستهزئون – the mockers
It defines them, shows their main traits and Qur’anic examples, and outlines how a Muslim can protect themselves and their community from their influence.
Alongside this, the Qur’an calls us to surround ourselves with righteous, positive people; to rely on Allah while doing our utmost; and to remain vigilant in protecting our hearts, our families, and our communities from those who delight in spreading negativity, doubt and cynicism.
Obstructors, discouragers, rumour-spreaders, doubters and mockers in the Qur’an
The Quran shows us the traits and examples, of those who are obstructors, discouragers, rumour-spreaders, doubters and mockers. And how we can avoid their influence.
Quranic definitions
- المعوِّقون – the obstructors
They are those who hinder people from obeying Allah, from striving in His path, and from supporting the truth – whether by discouraging words, demoralising attitudes, or spreading ideas that sap energy and resolve.
۞ قَدۡ یَعۡلَمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُعَوِّقِینَ مِنكُمۡ وَٱلۡقَاۤىِٕلِینَ لِإِخۡوَ ٰنِهِمۡ هَلُمَّ إِلَیۡنَاۖ وَلَا یَأۡتُونَ ٱلۡبَأۡسَ إِلَّا قَلِیلًا
“Allah already knows those who hinder among you and those who say to their brothers, ‘Come to us,’ and they do not go to battle except a little.” (Al-Ahzab, 18)
The obstructor is the one who places obstacles in the path of truth, constantly presents flimsy excuses, and diverts people away from action and sacrifice.
- المثبِّطون – the discouragers
They are those who weaken the determination of believers, belittle the possibility of victory, and inflate the dangers and problems until people lose heart.
فَرِحَ ٱلۡمُخَلَّفُونَ بِمَقۡعَدِهِمۡ خِلَـٰفَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ وَكَرِهُوۤا۟ أَن یُجَـٰهِدُوا۟ بِأَمۡوَ ٰلِهِمۡ وَأَنفُسِهِمۡ فِی سَبِیلِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَالُوا۟ لَا تَنفِرُوا۟ فِی ٱلۡحَرِّۗ قُلۡ نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ أَشَدُّ حَرࣰّاۚ لَّوۡ كَانُوا۟ یَفۡقَهُونَ
“Those who stayed behind rejoiced in their sitting back behind the Messenger of Allah and disliked to strive with their wealth and their lives in the way of Allah. And they said, ‘Do not go forth in the heat.’ Say, ‘The fire of Hell is fiercer in heat, if only they understood.’” (Al-Tawbah, 81)
إِذْ يَقُولُ الْمُنَافِقُونَ وَالَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ مَرَضٌ غَرَّ هَؤُلَاءِ دِينُهُمْ
“[Remember] when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is disease said, ‘Their religion has deluded them.’” (Al-Imran, 154)
The discourager extinguishes enthusiasm, plants doubt and fear, and makes the believer feel that every step forward is a reckless risk.
- المرجفون – the rumour-spreaders:
They are those who spread alarming rumours and unverified “news” in order to create fear and anxiety, weaken the ranks of the believers, or undermine legitimate leadership.
لَئِنْ لَمْ يَنْتَهِ الْمُنَافِقُونَ وَالَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ مَرَضٌ وَالْمُرْجِفُونَ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ لَنُغْرِيَنَّكَ بِهِمْ
“If the hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease, and the rumour-mongers in Madinah do not desist, We shall certainly incite you against them…” (Al-Ahzab, 60)
The rumour-monger shakes hearts by constantly broadcasting fear: about war, community, or leaders, so that people live in a state of tension and expectation of disaster.
“Arjafa” basically means to cause movement and shaking, as when “the heart trembles with fear”. It then came to be used for spreading false or alarming news that shakes society, hence “al-arajif” for disturbing rumours.
The word “thabbata” originally means to hinder someone, slow them down, weaken their motivation, or distract them from carrying through an action. It is the opposite of encouragement and motivation.
Qur’anic examples
- المنافقون في غزوة الأحزاب
The hypocrites during the Battle of Ahzab
قالوا: ﴿مَا وَعَدَنَا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا﴾
They said: “Allah and His Messenger have promised us nothing but delusion.”
They withdrew, encouraged others to withdraw, and spread the idea that the situation was hopeless.
- المثبطون في غزوة تبوك
The discouragers during the Tabuk expedition
They spread all kinds of excuses: the heat, the distance, lack of resources, the cost – until Allah exposed them in Surah al-Tawbah.
3. Those who spread the false rumour of the Prophet’s death at Uhud shook the Muslim ranks, caused confusion and panic, and nearly turned the tide of the battle.
- أصحاب الإرجاف في المدينة
The professional rumour-spreaders in Madinah
They habitually circulated false alarms about attacks, betrayals, or crises, in order to destabilise society and erode trust.
Third: shared traits of obstructors, discouragers and rumour-spreaders
They often:
• Exaggerate problems and belittle solutions
• Spread rumours and unverified news
• Criticise endlessly without offering alternatives
• Speak in the language of fear and intimidation
• Amplify every negative aspect of any event
• Pretend to give “sincere advice” while secretly aiming to weaken the group
• Hide destructive intent under the cloak of “realism”, “logic” or “prudence”
How do we deal with such people and avoid their influence?
- تقوية اليقين بالله
Strengthen certainty in Allah
“Rely upon Allah, and Allah is sufficient as a Disposer of affairs.”
We must rely on Allah while doing our full part and refuse to let such people define our expectations.
- التثبت من الأخبار
Verify information
• تطبيق قاعدة القرآن: ﴿فَتَبَيَّنُوا﴾
یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوۤا۟ إِن جَاۤءَكُمۡ فَاسِقُۢ بِنَبَإࣲ فَتَبَیَّنُوۤا۟ أَن تُصِیبُوا۟ قَوۡمَۢا بِجَهَـٰلَةࣲ فَتُصۡبِحُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلۡتُمۡ نَـٰدِمِینَ
“O you who believe, if an ungodly person brings you any news, verify it, lest you harm a people in ignorance and then become regretful for what you have done.” (Al-Hujurat, 6)
Do not pass on any message or clip simply because it is “shocking” or “interesting”. Verification is an Islamic obligation.
- مصاحبة الإيجابيين وأهل الهمم
Keep the company of positive, high-aspiration people
Companionship shapes your inner state. Sit with those who remind you of Allah, who encourage you to do good, and who lift your morale rather than crush it.
- تجاهل الرسائل المثبطة
Ignore demotivating messages
المثبط لا يريد الحل بل يريد إطفاء حماسك.
Discouragers rarely want real solutions; they want your energy to die. Do not get dragged into endless negative conversations. Focus instead on concrete action, du‘a, and constructive planning.
- الاعتماد على القدوة الصالحة
Rely on righteous role models
فى زمن الإرجاف، يكفى أن ترى ثباتًا واحدًا ليقوى قلبك.
In times of fear and confusion, seeing even one person stand firm for Allah can strengthen an entire community. The greatest role model is the Prophet ﷺ.
- الحذر من المجالس التي تقتل الطموح
Beware of gatherings that kill ambition
قال ﷺ: «لا تُصاحب إلا مؤمنًا».
“Do not take as close companion except a believer.”
Avoid circles where backbiting, cynicism, and despair are normal, and where any sincere effort is mocked.
- الوضوح في الأهداف والعمل
Clarity of purpose and plan
كلما كان هدفك واضحًا، قلّ تأثير المثبطين عليك.
The clearer your aims and priorities are – whether in worship, family, da‘wah, or your career – the less power such people have over you.
In brief
The obstructors place barriers in the path of truth.
The discouragers weaken determination.
The rumour-spreaders create confusion and fear.
Protection lies in: certainty, awareness, verification, righteous companionship, refusing to internalise despair, clarity of purpose, and steadfastness in the face of waves of negativity.
ثانيًا: المشكّكون والمستهزئون في القرآن
Doubters and mockers in the Qur’an
بعد الحديث عن من يثبطون الهمم وينشرون الأراجيف، يأتى الحديث عن فئة أخرى لا تقل خطرًا: المشككون فى الوحي والرسالة، والمستهزئون بالدين وأهله.
After speaking about those who sap morale and spread rumours, we turn to another dangerous category: those who constantly sow doubt about revelation and those who mock the religion and its people.
- المشكِّكون – the doubters
They are those who plant doubt about the truth, the Prophetic message, the Qur’an, divinely-guided leadership or Allah’s promises, by raising distorted questions, making subtle insinuations, or attacking the very sources of guidance.
Their essence is to replace certainty with doubt and steadfastness with hesitation.
صفاتهم في القرآن
✔ التشكيك في الوحي
“إِنْ هَذَا إِلَّا قَوْلُ الْبَشَرِ” (المدثر: 25)
“This is nothing but the word of a human being.”
✔ التشكيك في صدق الرسول ﷺ
“أَبَعَثَ اللَّهُ بَشَرًا رَسُولًا” (الإسراء: 94)
“Has Allah sent a human as a messenger?”
✔ التشكيك في اليوم الآخر
“وَقَالُوا مَا هِيَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا الدُّنْيَا”
“They say: there is nothing but our worldly life…”
✔ إثارة الشبهات حول الأحكام
مثل قول بني إسرائيل:
“أَتَتَّخِذُنَا هُزُوًا” (البقرة: 67)
“Do you take us in mockery?”
✔ سوء الظن بالله
“يَظُنُّونَ بِاللَّهِ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ ظَنَّ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ” (آل عمران: 154)
✔ التشغيب على المؤمنين
“إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِئُونَ” (البقرة: 14)
They doubt revelation, question the Prophet’s truthfulness, deny the Hereafter, cast suspicion on Allah’s commands, entertain bad thoughts about Allah, and cause confusion within the community.
نماذج من المشكِّكين
أ. الوليد بن المغيرة ومن معه
اتهموا القرآن بأنه شعر وسحر وكهانة:
“إِنْ هَذَا إِلَّا سِحْرٌ يُؤْثَرُ”
B. مشركو قريش
اتهموا النبي ﷺ بأنه مجنون أو كاذب:
“وَيَقُولُونَ سِحْرٌ مُسْتَمِرٌّ”
C. بنو إسرائيل عند الأمر بذبح البقرة
أكثروا من التشكيك والتساؤل لتعطيل التنفيذ:
“يُبَيِّنْ لَنَا مَا هِيَ”
“إِنَّ الْبَقَرَ تَشَابَهَ عَلَيْنَا”
D. المنافقون
هم رأس التشكيك:
• فى القيادة
• فى النصر
• فى الوحي
• فى نيات المؤمنين
The hypocrites are the chief doubters: always raising suspicions about the leadership of the Prophet, questioning the prospects of victory, doubting revelation, and casting doubt on the intentions of sincere believers.
- المستهزِئون – the mockers
التعريف:
هم الذين يسخرون من الدين أو القرآن أو المؤمنين أو شعائر الإسلام، بقصد الإحباط أو الإهانة أو التشويه.
They are those who mock the religion, the Qur’an, believers, or the symbols of Islam with the aim of humiliating, discouraging or distorting the truth.
صفاتهم في القرآن
✔ السخرية من الرسول ﷺ
“وَيَقُولُونَ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِي نُزِّلَ عَلَيْهِ الذِّكْرُ إِنَّكَ لَمَجْنُونٌ”
✔ التهكم من القرآن
“أَسَاطِيرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ اكْتَتَبَهَا”
✔ الاستهزاء بالمؤمنين بسبب إيمانهم وبساطتهم
“أَهَؤُلَاءِ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ بَيْنِنَا”
✔ جعل الدين مجالًا للضحك واللعب
“الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا دِينَهُمْ هُزُوًا وَلَعِبًا”
✔ التهوين من الحق
“مَا هَذَا إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ”
They ridicule the Messenger, belittle the Qur’an as “ancient tales”, mock believers for their apparent weakness, turn religion into a joke, and reduce the truth to something trivial.
نماذج المستهزئين
أ. مستهزئو قريش، كالنضر بن الحارث وأبى جهل، الذين اتهموا النبي ﷺ بالسحر والكذب والجنون.
B. الذين سمّوا القرآن “أساطير الأولين”:
“وَقَالُوا أَسَاطِيرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ”
C. الذين سخروا من الضعفاء المؤمنين، كما قال الملأ من قوم نوح:
“أَنُؤْمِنُ لَكَ وَاتَّبَعَكَ الْأَرْذَلُونَ”
D. المنافقون الذين قالوا: “إِنَّمَا كُنَّا نَخُوضُ وَنَلْعَبُ”
فجاء الردّ:
“قُلْ أَبِاللَّهِ وَآيَاتِهِ وَرَسُولِهِ كُنْتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِئُونَ”
ثالثًا: العلاقة بين المشكِّكين والمستهزئين
Third: the relationship between doubters and mockers
• المشكِّك يفتح الباب بعقلية الشبهة والسؤال المنحرف.
• المستهزئ يغلقه بالسخرية والتحقير.
The doubter opens the door with intellectual confusion and distorted questioning.
The mocker slams it shut with ridicule and contempt.
كلاهما هدفه:
إضعاف اليقين، وتشتيت الصف، وتشويه الحقيقة.
Both share the same goal: to weaken certainty, fracture the community, and distort the truth.
رابعًا: كيف يتجنب المسلم تأثيرهم؟
Fourth: how can a Muslim avoid their influence?
- تقوية اليقين بالعلم
Strengthen certainty through knowledge
• فهم القرآن والتفسير والسيرة.
• دراسة العقيدة الصحيحة.
• معرفة حجج الدين وأدلته.
The more a Muslim understands the Qur’an, tafsir, seerah and sound creed, the less they are shaken by superficial doubts or clever soundbites.
- رفض الشبهات دون الغرق فى كل جدال
Reject doubts without diving into every argument
“وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ الَّذِينَ يَخُوضُونَ فِي آيَاتِنَا فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ”
Not every debate is beneficial. Sometimes the most faithful response is to walk away, preserve your heart, and seek knowledge from people of guidance.
- التثبّت من الأخبار والشبهات
Verify news and claims
Again, the command “فَتَبَيَّنُوا” – “verify” – applies not only to political rumours but also to religious claims, sensational “discoveries”, and hostile narratives about Islam.
- مرافقة أهل الإيمان والبصيرة
Keep company with people of faith and insight
The heart is protected by good company. Being surrounded by people whose faith is steady and whose thinking is clear helps you recognise mockery and evil doubt for what they are.
- الثبات وعدم الاهتزاز بكلامهم
Stay firm and emotionally steady
“فَلَا يَحْزُنْكَ قَوْلُهُمْ”
“Let not their words grieve you.”
A believer does not measure the truth by how loudly it is mocked, but by the light that Allah has placed in it.
- عدم إعادة نشر الشبهات أو الاستهزاء
Do not spread doubts or mockery, even “just to refute them”, if you do not have the grounding to do so. Amplifying such content strengthens its presence in people’s minds.
- الردّ بالقرآن والعلم والهدوء
Respond with Qur’an, knowledge and calmness
Where a response is needed, it should be rooted in clear Qur’anic arguments, sound knowledge and dignified composure – not in anger, insult or panic.
- اليقين بأن الله يدافع عن المؤمنين
Be certain that Allah defends the believers
“إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُدَافِعُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا”
Ultimately, our hearts rest in the knowledge that Allah Himself defends the people of faith.
خامسًا: خلاصة مركزة
Fifth: condensed summary
المشكّكون:
يشككون في الوحي والرسالة والقيادة واليوم الآخر والأحكام.
هدفهم: زعزعة اليقين.
The doubters cast suspicion on revelation, the message, leadership, the Hereafter and divine rulings. Their goal is to shake certainty.
المستهزئون:
يسخرون من القرآن والنبي والدين والمؤمنين.
هدفهم: كسر المعنويات وتشويه الدين.
The mockers ridicule the Qur’an, the Prophet, the religion and the believers. Their goal is to break morale and distort the faith.
الوقاية:
علم + يقين + تثبّت + صحبة صالحة + إعراض عن السخرية + ثبات + هدوء + توكل على الله.
Protection lies in knowledge, certainty, verification, righteous companionship, turning away from circles of mockery, firmness, calmness, and deep trust in Allah.
خاتمة
فى رحلتنا إلى الله، نريد أن نحسن فى كل شيء: فى عبادتنا، وأخلاقنا، وأعمالنا، وأسرنا، وأعمال الدعوة والخير. لذلك لا بد أن ننتبه لهذه الفئات التى ذكرها القرآن: المعوقون، والمثبطون، والمرجفون، والمشككون، والمستهزئون. هدفهم أن يوقفوا مسيرتنا أو يحرفوها.
Our role model is the Prophet ﷺ. Allah tells us that in him we have the best example. He chose his close circle carefully; he nurtured and trained them to carry the message with clarity of purpose and excellence in ihsan. We too need to choose our close circle wisely, to cultivate the right mindset, and to revive this sunnah of building people of strength, sincerity and positivity.
We ask Allah to make us among the righteous who encourage and spread goodness, not among those who hold others back, and to protect our hearts, our families and our communities from every obstructor, discourager, rumour-monger, doubter and mocker.
Based on the Khutbah of Shaykh Haytham Tamim on 5th December 2025